Fire claims abandoned home; firefighters stop blaze's spread

Published 6:00 pm, Sunday, December 14, 2008

A vacant South Midland home was reported to be a complete loss as it was fully engulfed in flames Monday afternoon when Midland firefighters arrived on the scene.

Eight units were dispatched around 1:55 p.m. to the residence in the 300 block of West California Avenue, between South Big Spring and Colorado Streets.

Upon arrival, Midland Fire Department officials said the flames were about 10 to 15 feet high, and had moved to surround a nearby vacated business, less than three feet away.

But because the building, the former home of Matlock Furniture, was made of cinder blocks instead of wood, firefighters were able to contain the flames to the building of origin before it impinged on any other structures, said Battalion Chief Vince Hancock.

The estimated 800-square-foot residence was found empty of all belongings and furniture, and officials said it looked to have been abandoned for some time.

It took firefighters about 15 minutes to put the fire out. Temperatures inside the home reached between 800 and 1,000 degrees, officials said. Crews put out hot spots still smoldering more than an hour later.

Nearby power lines, melted and lying on the ground, posed a danger for firefighters.

The closed up furniture store next door only suffered interior smoke damage which fire crews were able to use fans to help with ventilation.

No one was found inside the home, and no injuries were reported.

Because the fire was 100 percent involved when crews arrived, officials said it was hard to determine when the fire started.

MFD Investigator Jimmy Howard said no ignition sources were found as of yet. The fire still was under investigation as of press time.